Nevada County picayune., 1887-03-02
THE DUELISTS.


 place in the Rue de Provence. The cream of the French aristocracy, the hereditary oppressOrs of the people thronged the ballroom in their dazzliu. costumes. And one to see such q kaleidoscOpic array of beauty and chivilry, so volatile and gay, would not think that q terrible Nemesis in the form of all outraged populacc was even then drawing near, and would. ere long, with one Tatanic blow, decapitate the hydraheaded monster that so long lived on their substance. When the mad revel was at its height a lissomc creature, with step of a eazelle, attired as Gre cian slIepherdess, moved graceful ly about, and, with Cicerian mag netisn, became the exposure of all eyes. A 6ashing young officer, wearing the uniform of lieutenant, approached, and, Lowing defer ently, said:
 twill the fair pastoral goddess favor me with a dance"
 "Monsicur must pardon me it l refuse as 1 am already fatigued from danciug," she answered, in a voice that bespoke unaffected in. genuOusness.
 'But, madam" he persisted, "I may at least have the pleasure of escorling you to a seat?"
 ''If monsieur insists l suppose l have nothing to do but comply,a she answered with charming nai. yete, and accepted his proffered arm.
 He led the way to cushioned alcove, and, with the air of BN- ard, begged permission to finger, if only for few moments. An al most imperceptible movement 0 | the head, given to denote assent, suiliced 10 loosen her mask, which fell to the floor, revealing a face of dazzling beauty, Her eyes were as dark as night, and, in the lan- guage of the poet, "might have changed the fate of an empire" Her brow and lips afforded ample scope for the honeyed phrases of Ovid. The exquisite symmetry of her frame shone to advantage in her unique costume.
 The eyes of the young man feast ed on the lovely vision for brief period, and then, removing his mask, he exclaimed: "Siuce d gen erous fate has revealed your love- ly features, it is only just that 1 should also reveal mine."
 The young girl tOyed with her mask for a moment how to act. Then lifting her eyes, she gazed at the young man in different sort of way and said in a low, musical voice:
 "If l mistake not, monsieur is of the house of ChandosW
 "I cannot claim such a distiuc- tion," hastily answered her audi tor, with slight shade of melan, choly in his voice. ''l am only a poor soldier of fortune whose sword is his only legacy"
 "Then, how dare you talk to a daughter of General the Count d'Arnot?" interrupted a gruff voice and the youthful twain turning quickly, beheld a tall man dressed as a Siciian brigand. He held in his hand the mask that he tore from his face, and the wOltish eye shown omniously as he gazed, or rather scowled at the young lieu tenant.
 "Monsieur le Comte, the young man has acted with singular deli cacy and gentleness toward me, and l think your words demand an ap- ology," spiritedly interposed the object of dispute, arising and stand. ing between the two men.
 "The Count de Landon owes no apology to ehurl," was the fierce aud naughty rejoinder.
 The yomg lieutenant, stnng to madness by :his taunt. advanced and deliberately spat in the face of naughty ncbeman. The count sprang back ward withthe agility of an athlete, at thesame time drawing his sword. The young girl grasped the noblcman by the sword arm and begged of him to forbear. Nothing daunted, the lieutenant stood hkc Lauucelo., with poised blade, awaiting the onset.